FRIDAY FIVE: The good, bad, funny and ugly from a rollercoaster season

20 May 2011 04:04

ShareThis weekend marks the end of a rollercoaster season that was at times thrilling, at times heartbreaking, and always entertaining. There have been fights, feuds, accusations and shocking misbehaviour - and that's before the matches have even started.

At the close of a campaign that featured touchline tussles, post-match diatribes and inter-team squabbles, Sportsmail look back at 2010-11's most bizarre moments.

1. Borat streaker, March 2011When a streaker wearing a Borat wig and 'mankini' invaded the pitch at non-league Havant & Waterlooville, one determined player decided to speed up the resolution.

Ashley Vickers, Dorchester Town's player/manager, tackled the pitch invader and knocked him to the ground, trapping him in a headlock which made his wig fall off. But the referee was not amused, and Vickers was sent off. His team lost the Blue Square Bet South clash 3-1.

2. Don't shoot the student, January 2011In a fresh example of moderate, down-to-earth behaviour from a super-rich young footballer, Ashley Cole decided to take an air rifle to training. Unfortunately, work placement student Tom Cowan accidentally got in the firing line while the Chelsea left back was 'larking about' - not realising the gun was loaded. Whoopsie!

Of course, it ended in tears and after a rap on the knuckles, Cole skulked away to play with his other toys instead. Darts, anyone?

Sharp shooter: Ashley Cole was it hot water for shooting a work experience boy at Chelsea's training ground

3. Balotelli and the Battle of the BibIt's not easy playing for Manchester City, one of the richest and most successful clubs in the world. You have to be agile enough to beat nimble opposition, strong in the face of danger, and intelligent enough to overcome the sneakiest challenges.

Which is why Mario Balotelli is worth every penny in the ?24million City paid for him, and why he was able to - just about - handle his toughest adversary yet: a bib.

4. Thriller nights, January 2011Fulham's great history is filled with illustrious and talented persons associated with the club, so it was only right that owner Mohamed Al-Fayed should choose to adorn Craven Cottage with a statue of that most famous of Fulham fans, er, Michael Jackson.

Al-Fayed was forthright in his response to irate fans: 'If they don't understand and don't believe in things I believe in, they can go to Chelsea.'

Bad: Fulham chairman Mohamed Fayed unveiled a statue in tribute to Michael Jackson at the club's stadium in London

5. Kuyt's goalscoring masterclassProving that you make your own chances in football, Liverpool produced a controversial goal against Sunderland when a Dirk Kuyt foul led to a free kick for Sunderland.

Defender Michael Turner back-heeled the ball to Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to take the free kick, but Fernando Torres pounced before it reached him and passed to Kuyt - who quickly aimed it into the back of the net.

Cheeky finish: Dirk Kuyt grabbed a controversial goal at the Stadium of Light